If
it is true that the age of national exploration is now past, the Long Riders’
Guild believes we are about to witness the dawning of the age of the
citizen-explorer, an enlightened era wherein individuals set out not to exploit
the natural resources of their neighbours, nor to plant the flag of their
country of origin atop a mighty peak in another land, but rather to explore the
frontiers of this planet and our own souls.

Courage and curiosity are requisite requirements for any Long Rider; but
practical knowledge regarding the possible route is of equal importance.

The
well-known Scottish Long Rider, Vyv Wood-Gee (above), realized that there was a
dire need for reliable equestrian travel information. She wrote to The Guild in
2008 to say, “It's obvious that those from outside Britain may not appreciate in
advance how the UK differs from other countries, as finding out about routes in
this country is not easy. I have had real difficulty finding out about riding
routes in other countries, the legal position regarding equestrian access,
knowing who to ask etc. Some may feel that finding such things out is all part
of the challenge and satisfaction, as indeed it is, but basic information could
help riders plan their journey so they don't meet major disappointments. My
suggestion is to include basic information on the LRG web-site, volunteered by
Long Riders, regarding riding in different countries. Examples of the
information which would be useful would be: how and where to find out about
riding routes or other info relevant to that country, basic considerations in
planning a ride in any country such as timing, weather, health, water etc.”

In
response to Vyv’s suggestion, the Guild now archives the details of a growing
collection of Long Rider Routes This unique repository contains the knowledge
gained by equestrian explorers past and present, and will allow future Long
Riders to travel with an increased degree of confidence and safety between
distant destinations.

The
first of these routes was “Misty’s Long Ride.” It title was bestowed by American
Long Rider Howard Wooldridge, who rode his Pinto mare “ocean to ocean” across
the United States in 2002. In keeping with that tradition, whenever possible,
other routes also bear the name of the Road Horse who accomplished the journey.

From China to Afghanistan
– The oldest “Story from the Road” was compiled by Chen Cheng, who made a round
trip journey from Peking, China to Herat, Afghanistan in 1414.

St. Petersburg to Peking
– In 1717 Scottish Long Rider John Bell spent seventeen months riding between
the capitals of Russia and China.

Riding Across the Sahara
- Hugh Clapperton travelled across the interior of north Africa in 1822 to
identify the course of the River Niger.

On the Oregon
Trail
– John and Lulu Beard set off in 1948 to retrace the legendary pioneer trail
stretching from Missouri to Oregon.

Into the Wakhan Corridor
– Jean and Franc Shor received special permission from the King of Afghanistan
to explore the Wakhan Corridor in 1949.

To Save a Country
– In the winter of 1950 George Patterson rode across the Himalayan Mountains to
alert the world that Tibet had been invaded by communist China.

Across the Takla Makan Desert and into Tibet
– One of the most astonishing journeys was undertaken in 1950 when a group of
Russian and American Long Riders, mounted on specially trained meat-eating
horses, fled before the advancing Chinese communist army.

Argentina to Canada
– After being inspired by Aimé Tschiffely, Ana Beker rode 27,500 kilometres
(17,000 miles) from Buenos Aires to Ottawa between 1952 and 1954.

Journey from the Arctic
– Donald Brown and Gorm Skifter rode from the Arctic Circle, in Lapland, to
Copenhagen, Denmark in 1954.

Growing Up on the Pacific Crest Trail
–
In 1969 Barry Murray, his wife and three young children became the first family
to ride 4,286 kilometres (2,663 miles) from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific
Crest Trail.

Lesotho to Kenya
– Ria Bosman and Gordon Naysmith’s journey across Africa in 1970 was one of the
most difficult and dangerous on record.

Through the Darien Gap Jungle
– In 1971 the British Trans-Americas Expedition led by Colonel John Blashford
Snell completed a gruelling 99 day crossing of the infamous jungle separating
Panama from Columbia.

Little Long Rider
- In 1986 at the age of 9, Hjoerdis Rickert rode 1950 kilometres (1200 miles)
from Le Puy, France, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, making her the
third-youngest person ever to be inducted into The Long Riders' Guild.

From Turkmenistan to Russia
– Geldy Kyarizov rode 4,300 kilometres (2,700 miles) from Ashgabat to Moscow in
1988. The journey took him through the Kara Kum Desert, across Uzbekistan,
Kazakhstan and Russia.

Khyber Knights
– A Founding Member of the Guild, CuChullaine O’Reilly rode through northern
Pakistan in 1987.

Spanish Pilgrimage
– Founding Members of the Guild, Robin and Louella Hanbury-Tenison, followed the
ancient pilgrim’s trail across Spain in 1989.

Across the Steppes to Mongolia
- Catherine Waridel, a Founding Member of the Guild, rode 8,000 kilometres
(5,000 miles) from the Crimea to Mongolia between1992 and 1995.

From Patagonia to Alaska
– Starting in 1994, Founding Member of the Guild
Günter Wamser spent
nearly twenty years riding
25,000 kilometres (15,535 miles) from the bottom of
Patagonia to the top of Alaska.

Chalchalero’s March from Argentina to Israel
– Argentine Long Rider Eduardo Discoli departed in 2001 on a 35,000 kilometres
(21,700 miles) journey that took him across the Americas, through Europe and on
to the Middle East.

Travelling
Across Tibet
– New Zealand Long Rider Ian Robinson undertook a remarkable solo journey across
Tibet in 2002 which resulted in him being pursued cross country by the communist
authorities.

Misty’s Long Ride
– Howard Wooldridge set off in 2002 to ride “ocean to ocean” across North
America.

South Africa to Kenya
-
Esther Stein and Horst Hausleitner encountered many adventures during their ride
across southern Africa in 2003.

The Afghan
Cavaliers
– Louis Meunier of France and Hadji Shamsuddin of Maimana overcame dangers and
disease during their ride across Afghanistan in 2005.

In Chile and Argentina
– English Long Rider Hugh MacDermot made an extensive journey through Chile and
Argentina in 2005.

Across the American West
– Bernice Ende began an series of equestrian journeys in North America in 2005,
when she rode 3,200 kilometres (2,000 miles) from Montana to New Mexico.

On the Tea Horse Trail to Tibet
– Daniel Robinson travelled along an ancient trade route in 2006, going from
China, across Tibet, over the Himalayan Mountains and into India – where he was
arrested and imprisoned.

From Tunisia to Uganda
– An ambitious journey began in 2007 when Christine Henchie and William
Brenchley set off to cross the African continent from north to south.

The Long Trot
– John O'Groats, Scotland and Land's End,
Cornwall are the two furthest points of Great Britain. Grant Nicolle rode
between them in 2007.

Dreams Do Come True–
Filipe Masetti Leite set off from Calgary,
Canada in 2012 and arrived in Espírito Santo do Pinhal, Brazil in 2014.

Sheila’s Journey
-
Inspired by national hero
Jan Žižka,
in
2015 Dalibor Balut made the first modern ride to all corners of his native Czech
Republic.

Exploring Lithuania
- Vaidotas Digaitis rode from the Baltic Sea in Lithuania to the Black Sea in
Ukraine. He next completed a journey around the Baltic Sea to the Arctic Circle
and back. In 2015 he also pioneered a route around his native Lithuania.

Red’s Ride-
In 2015 English Long Rider Marc Noonan rode his gelding, Red, 4,800 kilometres
(3,000 miles) across Colombia, through Ecuador and on to the border of Peru.

Hoofprints Across Patagonia- Long Riders Charlotte
Simsar, Capucine Lelièvre and Charlotte Vandeputte mapped their route across
Patagonia and the pampas in 2016.

Bento's Long Ride:
In 2018
Greta Lackner and her horse, Bento, pioneered a route across Austria,
the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and into Norway. The journey
lasted 116 days and covered 2,500 kilometres.

Oisín's Irish Trail - In the summer of 2018 English Long
Rider Cathleen Leonard and Romanian Long Rider Vlad Coman rode the length of
Ireland.